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Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise Screening

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise Screening

Mon, 02/27/2017 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Maya Angelou| And Still I Rise movie poster

Photo courtesy of mayaangeloufilm.com

As part of Black History Month, WXXI is partnering with Writers & Books to present this special screening followed by a panel discussion. Specially selected clips from Maya Angelou: And Still I Risewill screen Monday, February 27, 2017 at 7pm at the Little Theatre, 240 East Avenue (L1). The film presents her incredible journey, shedding light on the untold aspects of her life with remarkable unmatched access. This intimate and personal portrait of Dr. Maya Angelouâ€™s life is a touching and moving tribute to her legacy. The event is FREE and open the public. Seats are first come, first served.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion with local writers Selena Cochran and Banke Awopetu-McCullough. Writers & Books Executive Director Kyle Semmel will moderate.

About the panelists:

Selena Cochran is a celebrated poet, orator, and the founder of HugsandFistBumps.com, where she weaves her love of poetry with soul-stirring words of affirmation that â€śhug, heal, encourage and empower." Selena is a member of We All Write, a collaborative consortium of black women writers in Rochester, NY and is often a featured poet at readings across the county including: Writers and Books Inauguration Day of Diversity, Words on the Verge, Genesee Reading Series and the St. John Fisher Riot Commemoration event. Her poems have been published in various publications and magazines.

Banke Awopetu-McCullough is a natural story teller who shares her love of literature and community via all of her endeavors. Banke is the founder and CEO of Concrete Rose Publications, author of the hit novel, Always Want More, professor, curator of Black Teacher Chronicles, a highly sought after facilitator, founding member of the Rochester Black Author Expo and We All Write, and a creative contributor to dozens of publications, companies, and projects.

Kyle Semmel is the executive director of Writers & Books. He is also a writer and literary translator (as K.E. Semmel) who has translated 12 books, including, most recently, Thomas Rydahlâ€™s The Hermit; he is the recipient of numerous grants from the Danish Arts Foundation and a 2016 NEA Literary Translation Fellow.

High School Writing Contest:During the months of January and February, Writers & Books will run a writing contest for local high schoolers. We will accept submissions, either a 20 line poem or 250 word prose piece, based on Maya Angelou's "And Still I Rise." Submissions should address these questions in some way: What does Angelou's poem mean to you? How have you or others risen? The five top submissions, as judged by Writers & Books staff, will be honored in a brief ceremony on February 27 at the Little Theatre. There is no fee to enter the contest, and all entries should be submitted to [email protected]. Guidelines: one submission per person. Submissions must not exceed length requirements. Deadline to submit: February 12. The winners of this contest will be recognized at the February 27th screening event at the Little.

The full program will also broadcast on 2/21 8pm, 2/26 at 2pm and on 3/14 at 8pm on WXXI-TV